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By Trent Shotwell
Collection Overview
Title: John F. Kelly Papers, 1866-2007

Extent: 6.0 Items
Arrangement: The collection consists of a handwritten diary, correspondence, newspaper articles, documents, and photographs concerning John F. Kelly and the Kelly family of Walker County, Texas. The diary is arranged in the order previously assigned. All other materials are arranged by item type. This collection is located in the Thomason Room Single Item Collections Archival Box.
Subjects: Cincinnati (Tex.), Climate, Geography, Medicine - United States - History, Walker County (Tex.)
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The John F. Kelly Collection (1866-2007; one box) contains the original diary of John Felix Kelly, an early Walker County settler. His personal diary includes perspectives on events, weather, east Texas terrain, and people. The diary includes songs, scientific problems, surveying procedures, and medical treatments. The John F. Kelly Collection also contains photographs, correspondence, and additional documents that relate to John F. Kelly and his family.
Collection Historical Note
John Felix Kelly was born on August 31, 1845 in Borrisokane, Ireland. He came to New York in 1865 because of the Irish Potato famine and he was in Galveston, Texas by 1867,. John F. Kelly then moved to Cincinnati, Texas and married Mary Catherine “Kate” Smith in 1892. John and Kate had four children. John was a Catholic and Catherine came from a Protestant family. After the town of Cincinnati dissolved, John F. Kelly and his family moved to south Walker County. Kelly built a sawmill several miles North of New Waverly, Texas. John F. Kelly later died as results of injuries he sustained when a boiler exploded at the mill.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
SHSU Special Collections & University Archives
Use Restrictions:
The materials represented in this finding aid have been made available for research, teaching and private use. For these purposes, you may reproduce (print, make photocopies, or download) these items without prior permission on the condition that you provide proper attribution of the source in all copies.
Please contact the Newton Gresham Library's Special Collections and University Archives department to request permissions to reproduce materials for any other purpose, or to obtain information regarding the copyright status of a particular digital image, text, audio or video recording.
Preferred Citation:
John F. Kelly Papers. Thomason Special Collections, Newton Gresham Library, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1],
[All]
- Series 1

- Box 1

- Folder 1: John F. Kelly Biographical Information, 2003, 1986; no date

- Biography on John F. Kelly from History of Walker Count, Texas and another brief biography and description of his diary.
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 2: Kelly Family Correspondence, 1984 May 15, 2006 December 14

- Correspondence concerning the John F. Kelly diary and photographs.
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 3: John F. Kelly and Kate Smith Kelly Photographs, no date

- Donated in 1984. Includes brief description.
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 4: Old Cincinnati newspaper article, 1979 October 30

- "East Texas ghost town Old Cincinnati" by E.E. LEHR from the Houstonian.
- Originals or Copies Note: Original
- Folder 5: "Lonesome and Lovelorn In Cincinnati, Texas: The Complainings and Yearnings of John Felix Kelly, 1868" by Jeff Crane, 2007 October

- Paper read by Dr. Jeff Crane at the East Texas Historical Association meeting in Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 6: John F. Kelly Diary, 1866 January - 1868 April


- Diary contains descriptions of events, weather, places, and people. Includes songs, scientific problems, surveying procedures, and medical treatments. Significant references to Cincinnati, Texas
- Originals or Copies Note: Original
- Folder 7: John F. Kelly Diary Photocopy, 1866 January - 1868 April

- Diary contains descriptions of events, weather, places, and people. Includes songs, scientific problems, surveying procedures, and medical treatments. Significant references to Cincinnati, Texas
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 8: John F. Kelly Diary Transcription, 1966 September


- Copy of the typed transcription loaned by Mrs. Fred Kelly of Huntsville, Texas.
- Originals or Copies Note: Copy
- Folder 9: Anna Beth Kelly Deen Syphrett Obituary, 2002 February 24

- Obituary of Anna Beth Kelly, descendant of John F. Kelly.
- Originals or Copies Note: Original and Copy